Pistons survive Blake Griffin's ejection, top Hawks 125-122

Thon Maker sank a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 16.7 seconds remaining and the Detroit Pistons overcame Blake Griffin's ejection to beat the Atlanta Hawks 125-122 on Friday night.

Reggie Jackson scored a season-high 32 points. Andre Drummond had 26 points and 21 rebounds, but the Pistons struggled to overcome Griffin's third-quarter exit following his second technical foul of the period.

Griffin drew his first technical following a brief battle for the ball with Dewayne Dedmon. Then, after hitting a 3-pointer less than a minute later, Griffin yelled at the Hawks bench and was called for his second technical, apparently for taunting, with 4:19 remaining in the period.

Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond dunks against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 22, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP PhotoJohn Amis)

Griffin scored 15 points, ending a streak of four straight games with at least 25.

Drummond made two free throws to tie it at 122 with 43 seconds remaining. Trae Young, who led Atlanta with 30 points and 10 assists, missed on a short floater.

The 7-foot-1 Maker gave Detroit the lead with his 3-pointer from the corner. Young and Vince Carter each missed 3-pointers on Atlanta's final possession.

Atlanta Hawks forward DeAndre' Bembry (95) shoots as Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 22, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP PhotoJohn Amis)

Detroit led 88-77 when Griffin left the game. The Hawks immediately began to cut into the lead, pulling ahead 101-100 on Carter's 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter. Bruce Brown's three-point play gave the lead back to the Pistons.

Drummond recorded his fifth straight game with at least 15 points and 15 rebounds. He leads the NBA with 20 games with 20 or more points and rebounds.

The Pistons entered eighth in the Eastern Conference's eight-team playoff standings. Coach Dwane Casey said before the game, "Our playoff push begins tonight." Casey said he was looking for his team to "put on our hard hats" after a home loss to Hawks on Dec. 23.

Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Jackson, left, pleads for a call from referee Derdric Taylor (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks, Friday, Feb. 22, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP PhotoJohn Amis)

The Pistons showed good energy at the start when Jackson made a 3-pointer and Brown stole Atlanta's inbounds pass and scored on a layup. Detroit led 5-0 before the Hawks could take a shot.

Led by Young, the Hawks also showed good energy after the All-Star break, taking a big first-half lead of 14 points at 59-45 with a 12-0 run. Young scored on an explosive drive, set up Dedmon's jam and then sank a 3-pointer to cap the run.

Jackson had 15 second-quarter points — matching Young — as Detroit cut the Atlanta lead to 70-68 at halftime. The Pistons took the lead early on the second half on two free throws by Jackson.

Atlanta Hawks forward DeAndre' Bembry shoots as Detroit Pistons guard Langston Galloway, right, tries to draw a charge during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 22, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP PhotoJohn Amis)

Dedmon had 14 points and 12 rebounds.

TIP-INS

Pistons: G Wayne Ellington had nine points on three 3-pointers in his first start since signing with the Pistons on Feb. 9. Ellington averaged 8.4 points with Miami this season before he was traded to Phoenix and then waived. Luke Kennard moved to the bench.

Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young shoots as Detroit Pistons guard Bruce Brown (6) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 22, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP PhotoJohn Amis)

Hawks: G Kent Bazemore had 12 points as the fill-in starter for rookie Kevin Huerter (left ankle sprain). Huerter is not expected to play in Saturday night's game against Phoenix. ... The Hawks allowed at least 30 first-quarter points for the 30th time this season.

UP NEXT:

Pistons: At Miami on Saturday night.

Hawks: The Suns will take a 16-game losing streak into Saturday night's game and have won only four of 31 road games.

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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero had 31 points and 14 rebounds, Jalen Suggs added 24 points and the Orlando Magic handed Cleveland the worst playoff loss in franchise history, winning 121-83 on Thursday night to cut the Cavaliers’ lead to 2-1 in their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Franz Wagner finished with 16 points and eight assists for the Magic, who led by 43 points in the fourth quarter on the way to the third-largest margin of victory in a playoff game. They earned their first playoff victory since 2019 and the first on their home floor since April 26, 2011.

They can even the series with a victory at home Sunday.

Jarrett Allen had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Cavaliers, who shot 39% from the field and 23.5% from 3-point range. Caris LeVert added 15 points and Donovan Mitchell had 13 points and seven assists.

76ERS 125, KNICKS 114

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 50 points, making all four 3-point attempts and scoring 18 in a potential series-shifting third quarter to lead Philadelphia to a win over New York in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Embiid boldly stated “we’re going to win this series” after the 76ers dropped Game 2.

With one of the finest postseason efforts of his career, Embiid became the third player to ever score 50 points against the Knicks in the postseason and kept the hope of a Philadelphia series comeback very much alive.

The Knicks lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.

Embiid was 13 of 19 from the floor overall, made 19 of 21 free throws and hit five 3-pointers.

NUGGETS 112, LAKERS 105

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Aaron Gordon had 29 points and 15 rebounds, Nikola Jokic added 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, and Denver moved to the brink of the second round with a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of their first-round series..

Jamal Murray scored 22 points as the defending NBA champion Nuggets won their 11th consecutive meeting with LeBron James and the Lakers in dominating style.

Michael Porter Jr. added 20 points for Denver, which took control in the third quarter and cruised through the final minutes to its fifth straight road win over Los Angeles, starting with its sweep of last season’s Western Conference finals.

Game 4 is Saturday night in Los Angeles. No NBA team has ever rallied from an 0-3 playoff deficit.

Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) makes a shot as he gets past Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)